As Jace observed Leigh at the river, he recalled his meeting at the hotel with Louisa. “I don’t want this to happen again, Miss Jennings,” he admonished her after she had made her desires clear. “It could cause trouble for everyone. I work for Chad. Even if I were interested in your curious offer, I wouldn’t mess with the boss’s property. I suggest you cool your interest in me and behave yourself.”
“Why?” the redhead had asked, trying to caress and kiss him. “I have plenty to offer, jungle man. Chad won’t care what I do. He has his lustful eye on his little ward. If she looks his way, I’ve lost him. Frankly, I’d like to drop him before he discards me. Being tossed aside for another woman is most damaging to one’s pride, Jace.”
“If you feel this way, why did you come along?”
Louisa had grinned, shrugged, and replied, “Chad is a good catch, and Leigh might not be able to steal him from me. Women have to worry about such things as their futures. Besides, with that nasty problem at home, you’re unavailable for more than a little sport.”
“I’m unavailable for anything, woman, so cool your ardor. I don’t want any trouble.” Afterward, he had slipped out her balcony door. He gazed at the woman who had stolen his heart. Red dust clung to her blond hair and colored it to a curry shade. “Your hair’s as red as Louisa’s,” Jace said from behind her, choosing the wrong comparison from her reaction.
“I’m not complaining,” Leigh retorted in a cool tone. She finished her task and glared at him.
Jace teased, “Don’t want to break rule one, eh?”
“I’m not going to break any rules, Mr. Elliott.”
Jace knew for certain he hadn’t been mistaken about her suddenly cold mood. It was best to be direct and settle the manner now. “I tried to see you last night. You didn’t return to your room.”
“I assumed you would,” she revealed, “so I rented another room for the night. I had skipped lunch, so Chad and I had an early dinner. I wanted to make sure I began this promising trip well rested.”
“Are you upset about what Chad told you? He’s wrong about me.”
She looked at Jace oddly and wondered why Chad had revealed their private talk to his enemy. “You wouldn’t tell me what happened, so he did. I had to make certain you two wouldn’t involve me.”
“If that news made you miserable, why come here?”
“And lose our bet by breaking rule three? I keep my word, unlike some people I know. Did you say good-bye to all your women in Mombasa?”
Jace was baffled. “I don’t have any women there or elsewhere, only the one standing here and confusing me with this sudden coldness. What have I done wrong, Leigh? Don’t I get a chance to defend myself?”
“Don’t you mean, tell more lies and practice more deceits? Who was the native girl you’re obviously so fond of at the hotel? I saw you two in the garden, and it looked so sweet to me.”
Jace thought a minute, then laughed. “Her name is Ka’arta. She’s my housekeeper’s daughter. She was in town for monthly supplies. She and Johi have a hot romance going, but he’s getting nervous about marriage. I’ve known her for years, Leigh, since she was a young girl. She wanted me to speak with Johi and settle him down. Jealous?”
Leigh realized his explanation fit with the words she had overheard. “What about Louisa and your ‘old times’ she mentioned?”
“I explained that note to you.”
“The first one, yes. But what about the second one, Jace? You haven’t mentioned spending all afternoon in her room. I was coming down the hall and saw you enter and I heard how she greeted you.” In a thick southern drawl, she repeated those tormenting words. “Three hours later I gave up waiting for you to come out and explain.”
Jace laughed once more, this time in relief. He related what he had said and done with Louisa and how he had departed unseen. “I swear it’s the truth, Leigh. I know how those incidents must have looked, so you had a right to be angry and jealous. Just as I did about Chad. I saw you two having that cozy dinner and romantic walk. It took all of my willpower not to come down and whip both of you.”
“I know you saw us. At least I hoped that was your fierce stare I detected,” she confessed with a mirthful grin. “I believe what you told me, but I’m still vexed with that wanton redhead. I don’t blame Louisa for desiring you or for being afraid of losing Chad to another woman. But the vixen shouldn’t be so deceitful!”
“You sly wench. You had me worried and scared.”
“You hadmeworried and scared. But it was mean and childish to spite you.”
“When you didn’t return to your room …”
“Nothing happened between me and Chad.”
“I know, because I know you.”
“You’re right, thank goodness. I was dull-witted.”
“Let’s go before the others get suspicious of us. We’ll talk later.”
“Trust me, Leigh. I promise not to ever betray you.”